Page 43 of Cowboy's Healing Heart

I glance at the clock. "Just past eight. We've got plenty of time to lounge before we head out."

She hums, a small smile playing on her lips. "Good. I'm not ready to leave this bed yet."

I lean in, capturing her lips in a slow, deep kiss. She responds eagerly, her hands sliding up my chest to tangle in my hair. I lose myself in the taste of her, the feel of her body pressed against mine.

My phone buzzes again, insistent. Krystal pulls back, her brow furrowing. "You should probably get that."

I shake my head, trying to recapture the moment. "It's nothing important."

She gives me a look that says she doesn't quite believe me but doesn't push. Instead, she sits up, the sheet falling away to reveal her bare skin. "I'm going to grab a shower. Care to join me?"

The invitation in her voice is clear, and for a second, I'm tempted. But the weight of my father's calls, of the secrets I'm keeping, settles heavily on my chest. "You go ahead. I'll order us some breakfast."

Krystal nods, but I catch a flicker of disappointment in her eyes before she turns away. As she disappears into the bathroom, I sit up, running a hand through my hair. The phone buzzes again, and this time, I answer.

"Shane," my father's voice comes through, sharp and impatient. "I've been trying to reach you all morning."

"I was asleep," I reply, keeping my voice low. "What do you want?"

"We need your input on this DoD contract. The specs they're asking for are beyond anything we've done before. Your experience in the field could be crucial here."

I pinch the bridge of my nose, feeling a headache coming on. "Dad, I told you. I'm not coming back. I can't?—"

"This isn't about coming back," he cuts me off. "This is about duty. To your country, to your family. We need your expertise, Shane. Just for this contract."

The sound of the shower starting filters through the bathroom door. I think of Krystal in there, water cascading over her curves, and something in my chest tightens. "I can't," I say again, but my resolve is weakening.

My father sighs, a sound heavy with disappointment. "Fine. But at least look over the specs. I'll email them to you. Just... consider it, Shane. Please."

The call ends, and I'm left staring at my phone, feeling like I'm being pulled in two directions. Part of me wants to throw the damn thing out the window, to forget about Innoventis and contracts and family expectations. But another part, the part that was raised to be the heir to a billion-dollar company, knows I can't just walk away.

I order breakfast, then pull out my laptop. The email from my father is already there, waiting. I open it, scanning through the technical specifications for the new defense system Innoventis is proposing. It's ambitious, pushing the boundaries of current technology. However, there are flaws and gaps that someone with field experience would spot immediately.

Before I realize what I'm doing, I'm typing out notes and suggestions for improvements. I'm so engrossed that I don't hear the shower stop and don't notice Krystal until she's standing beside me, wrapped in a fluffy hotel robe.

"What's that?" she asks, peering at the screen.

I slam the laptop shut, my heart racing. "Nothing. Just... some old work stuff."

Krystal raises an eyebrow but doesn't comment. Instead, she leans down, pressing a kiss to my cheek. "Breakfast here yet? I'm starving."

As if on cue, there's a knock at the door. I get up to answer it, grateful for the distraction. But as I set out the food, I feel Krystal's eyes on me, curious and just a little suspicious.

We eat in companionable silence, but there's a tension in the air that wasn't there before. I catch Krystal watching me, her expression thoughtful. I want to tell her everything—about my family, about Innoventis, about the prearranged life including a potential wife that awaits when I return. But how meeting her has changed everything.

"So," Krystal says, breaking the silence. "What's the plan for today?"

I latch onto the change of subject. "I thought we could drive out to Sylvan Lake. It's beautiful this time of year."

Her face lights up, and something in my chest eases. "That sounds perfect."

We finish breakfast and get dressed. As we're packing up to leave, my phone buzzes again. This time, it's a text from my father: "Thanks for the input. These suggestions could make all the difference. We need you here, Shane."

I stare at the message, a mix of pride and frustration churning in my gut. I've spent so long trying to escape this life, but one morning of work, and I'm already being pulled back in.

"Everything okay?" Krystal asks, her hand on my arm.

I pocket the phone, forcing a smile. "Yeah. Let's get out of here."

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